The amount of class Davey displayed at the end of the race still shocks me to this day, to be that mentally defeated and still stay humble is a honorable trait. Davey was a complete class act on and off the track!
A lot better, the amount class I can never reach. Had I been where he was. After the end of the race, I would have ran that wrecked car up the concrete wall, overturn a tray of wheels, run into in the most vacant area of the speedway and cry. Just shows you how piss poor of a human being I am. And I'm not even American, let alone from the south.
@@VGF80i think there are bad humans from more places than america and the south lol might wanna stay off the nascar video comment sections with comment like that🤦🏻♂️
@@rererollin Wow I forgot I even wrote that half a decade ago. Truth be told, not much has changed, but I will admit that I exaggerated there. Still, I'd be pretty pissed off and want to quit if I had luck that horrible.
The King's last race, a future hall of famer's first race, and a little team with a driver from Wisconsin that won one of the most competitive championship points battles in NASCAR history. That storyline is better than any coerced chase drama.
Unfortunately, within a year, both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison would be dead in off-the-track aviation accidents, Alan in April outside of Bristol, and Davey at Talladega in July attempting to land a helicopter near the garage area (later blamed on pilot error).
1992 Hooter's 500. The season ended with the TRUE closest championship finish. It was then the end of an era for a legend and the beginning of another legend's career.
"Alan was the bridge from the past to the future." That may be the most insightful thing Kyle Petty has ever said in his life, and it's 10,000% true. Alan thought like a modern day engineer, but had the drive and work ethic from days past. The days of the independent owner/driver (and mechanic) were ending, yet he still came out on top.
Alan Kulwicki, had he not died, could very well have been a successful car owner after his career ended, using his engineering acumen to run a successful team (Kulwicki had a degree in mechanical engineering).
Too bad that never happened. I think getting away with a championship in what was the truly the most sad year for NASCAR with Bill France the founder gone and Richard Petty retiring to me a few years early (he could have retired when JG won the championship in '95) and Dale Earnhardt having just one win made my dad a huge NASCAR fan back in the day mad. Thankfully the two last Dale Championships and Jeff Gordon's rise to be the new king of NASCAR sort of pushes the new age to 2001 when Dale died and Dale Jr. trying to do what his dad did. My dad passed away from a heart attack in 2005, and the last race he watched was Dale Jr. winning the July 2001 Daytona race. I just think that race was better than the 1992 Hooters 500.
As a teenager, I had the pleasure of watching Alan Kulwicki race the short tracks of Wisconsin. What a success story, an inspiration for every idealist.
Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki are true NASCAR racers, they raced each other clean and respected each other, Alan was a true underdog, oh i mean Underbird, he came in, and no one ever thought Alan would be in contention for the championship, and that my friends, was one HELL of a championship battle
This championship has more drama, intrigue and excitement than pretty much all before and up to 2003. Since the chase came along, full season excitement is non existent.
That was one helluva day and a helluva season. Sadly, two of the six racers (Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki) died just a few months later. Also, I think of what might have been as we could have seen the three way duels between Dale, Jeff and Davey.
Also, that race's aftermath - starting with the firing of Bill Elliott's crew chief - may have marked the last hurrah for Junior Johnson's team, as his team would get only two more victories (both in 1994) before Johnson sold the team by 1996 (a bit of divine payback for Junior Johnson, who tried unsuccessfully to lure Kulwicki to the #11 Budweiser Ford and when Alan turned him down Johnson undercut Kulwicki out of a sponsorship deal with Maxwell House at the last minute, forcing Kulwicki to drive without a sponsor for the first few 1991 races until Hooters signed on)
I find myself watching this all the time. Just amazing, greatest race in all of history. Even with how hard they try, nascar will never be able to fabricate a championship race like this. So so happy for Alan, and crushed for Davey at the same time.
I have so much respect for Alan Kulwicki. He wanted to prove he could make it in NASCAR doing it his way and he beat the odds and became "King of the Hill." Would have been cool to see Alan, Davey and Jeff Gordon race together. They say that after your racing career ends, people remember you more for what you last did and for Alan, he died the reigning champ. I will remember him for his last full season more than the rest of his career.
8 yes later I'm still watching. I was there and this is my favorite race ever!!!!! I was a Dupont guest and met Jeff and his mom. I was wearing my Hooters tshirt and brand new Dupont hat signed by Jeff. One of my best days
One of the best booths in sports history, IMO. Bob has a smooth, uptempo voice without going too far over the top. Benny and Ned's personalities meshed well and made for good balance; Benny was a little more jovial and emotional but didn't go so far as to become a caricature of himself, and Ned was more analytical and direct but wasn't overly dry. The best part? No catchphrases, no hype, no over the top antics. Just three professionals who were were well balanced personality-wise and made it sound as if they were just watching the race in one of their living rooms.
I'm relatively new to following NASCAR, even I shed tears watching this for the first time, the gestures for the passing of Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison were perfectly poetic. More than that, it was one of the most loaded storylines of any championship in any race series. The final race for the most successful driver in NASCAR history, The King Richard Petty, the first race another multiple champion, Jeff Gordon and six drivers mathematically in contention the championship in 1992
+Dale Shahid Indeed he did; a plane crash outside of Bristol claimed Kulwicki's life. Three months after that, Davey Allison died in a helicopter crash attempting to land his helicopter near the garage area at Talladega (The crash was later blamed on pilot error).
and once Jeff Gordon retires at the end of this season, the Richard Petty linage will be just about over, Richard Petty can be traced from divers who raced in the first NASCAR race to drivers still active today, and while there will still be 1 or 2 part-time drivers active after this season who raced with Richard Petty, but Jeff Gordon will be the last full-time driver.
Robert Torres Both Labontes were part time for the last few years of their careers. (Terry for 8 years). Rusty Wallace did run full time until he retired though, yes.
I have to agree this was a remarkable race, although I only saw it on ESPN, it was really emotional, such a close Winston Cup finish. There will never be race quite like this one, and the sport will never be the same. RIP - Alan & Davey.
The 1992 Hooters 500 still remains the most exciting NASCAR race in the history of racing. This race had me on the edge of my chair and throwing beer cans and ash trays every lap. The competition between Kulwicki and Elliott in those few laps were soooooo very exciting. I could have strangled Ernie Irvan for taking Davy Allison out. LOL... Never have I been so involved in a NASCAR race ever. I will never forget it!!! NASCAR racing is a total joke today. They put any young driver in the seats that can drive fast and turn left and expose them as stars. All cars are built exactly the same and where the hell did Toyota come from???????
it is an all out disgrace how Nascar and the Nascar media does not recognize or mention Alan Kulwicki some 20 years later after his death. I don't think his name has even been brought up for the Hall of Fame.
He was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in '98 and was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in '02, which until NASCAR opened their own HoF, was the preeminent motorsports hall of fame. As I'm sure Alan told himself many, many times......"Patience, your (his) time will come."
Honestly, this storyline is something out of a movie. You have the greatest driver in the sport make his last start, a future legend make his first start, a 6 man dog fight for all the marbles, and an underdog beat all the odds and doubters, and take home the crown. Some director in Hollywood, please make a movie about this race!
They could easily make a "Rush" style movie about the 1992 season. Between the championship, The King, and Jeff Gordon I bet anybody who's ever been even sort of interested in NASCAR would come watch it. Let Ron Howard direct this one too!
Not just cool, as I worked for him...As I went from military to Dawsonville (radios), fabrication..I'd have to say AWESOME. IF I can... I'l see James E. and have him sign my DIXIE 500 hat, from event he MAY have worked.
@@jeffniznick9280 I agree. I'd rather see somebody dominate an entire season and when with a few races to go instead of watching somebody hit a string of good luck around the end after being average all season.
To hell with the manufactured Chase drama created by Brian France. Anybody who says 2011 was a superior year to this is an idiot. THIS was a true championship fight. Hard to believe that modern NASCAR was born with this as well. Seems so long ago.
You can't say that 2011 was superior to 1992 in anyway, but the reason 1992 is fondly remembered is because: A) Kulwicki, and to an extent Davey, never got another chance to run for championship contention B) it was the only time that the three 'greats', King Richard Petty, Dale Intimidator Earnhardt, and Jeff Wonderboy Gordon were ever in the same race. C) it was the farewell race for Petty D) Everyone was pulling extra-hard for Davey because of Clifford's death earlier that year. The points battles in 1992 and 2011 are similar in that it was 'close', however, the lead up to both of them were radically different, and the in-race events were radically different also.
***** Considering everything Tony did in the Chase, he deserved it. He was better than Carl when it mattered most. Carl was incapable of winning races, and that's why he lost. To win a title, you need to be able to win a lot. Carl couldn't do that in 2011, Tony did. Carl needed to win Homestead to win it all, and he couldn't do it because he couldn't win races in 2011. Ironic, isn't it?
Me and my two brothers were there. It was a great race and one that I'll never forget. Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison both lost their lives in the next year. :-(
Back again to watch this full outstanding video of this amazing race. As I said I still have the race taped n a VHS tape and a player in good condition to watch it on, but the commentary and behind the scenes information about the top drivers in this video makes it much more interesting. It is such a shame that NASCAR has fallen under the clutches of the "ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR" these days. All the real drivers and heroes are gone. There is "NO WAY" these young drivers of today can come remotely close to comparing to the drivers and car owners of then. No more Fords vs Dodge, no more Chevy vs Pontiac, no more Plymouth vs Buick. That was a major part of keeping us gearheads interest in the sport. All cars of today are built the same with all the same after market engines and who ever donates the sheet metal for the cars and sponsors the teams puts their logo on that car. .Also, where in the hell did Toyota come from and what business does it have in an American Muscle racing sport with the back roads roots such as NASCAR??? I'll tell ya where they came from... "$$$$$$$$$$"... That is all NASCAR is about now days. There will never be drivers such as Petty, Earnhardt, Allison, Kulwicki, Elliott, Martin, Wallace, Waltrip, Jarrett, Gordon, Yarborough, Johnson, Baker, Bonnet, Shephard, McDuffey, Gant, and all other greats. These guys were in those seats because of passion and heart for the sport. Drivers today are there for the dollars, fame, and glory. NASCAR will never be the same. Too many greedy chiefs and not enough Indians so to speak!!!
What might've been...Gordon wouldn't have finished his career with as many wins I assure ya. They would've taken several. The good Lord had other plans :)
No, Kulwicki and Allison would have not let Jeff Gordon a chance, I think it sounded right when both of them died a combined 24 wins, the # for Gordon, who was a superstar compared to those two. Kulwicki could have easily not won the championship if he didn't lead as many laps and handed the championship to Bill Elliott.
Still drives a dagger into my heart to watch Davey wreck and then the part of his death. I remember both all too well and pain is just as real as it was then.
You know, Nascar doesn't really have much exposure in the UK unless you have certain sat channels. But I can see and watch these great drivers with their inspirational stories and I can appreciate their talents thanks to docs like this, fabulous!!
And another thing worth noting is that, of the four 1992 championship contenders who were still with us at the end of the following season; Mark Martin was the only one that was a serious contender for a championship after 1992 (coming in 2nd in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2009 in addition to his 2nd place finish in 1990). Especially notable is that how much Bill Elliott's career really tailed off after 1992 (from winning 35 races and the 1988 Winston Cup between 1985-92; Awesome Bill won only 4 races the rest of his career and never finished higher than 8th in points after 1992).
its not about changing of the guard, its about people WE, THE REAL FANS, CAN IDENTIFY WITH, not some bunch of cookie cutter drivers, with no history of anything, walk in up , and say in " I wanta drive a race car " and daddy pays his way in
This was the first NASCAR race I ever saw as a kid. I was immediately hooked. Sitting here now after watching this it evokes so much emotion. How it all played out was so heartbreaking and leaves me with sadness even now. Alan and Davey were too good for this world, I suppose. God or fate saw fit to take them away before they could ever fall from grace.
When the schedule was released everyone looked at this day as being historical. It had heartbreak and triumph and sadness and hope. This race will never be forgotten.
They aren't gone, we all are just a lap down. We'll catch them again after the Final Lap. Thanks for the amazing memories fellas! But don't lift, I'm reeling you in!!
I think that Fox Sports 1 after the race at Homestead Miami Speedway this year should make another one of these show's except call it "The Day: 2015 Ford 400" and it should focus on Jeff Gordon. That would be pretty cool.
However, it would then have to also focus on the "Champion" Kyle Busch. As far as my knowledge goes. 2015 was said to have a dumpster fire of a championship. Kyle Busch is not a champion, he's is a championship cheater. However 2018 does seem to be a more deserving year for him though.
Too bad it was Joey Logano's turn. But I think the 2015 Ford 400 is a better race than the 1992 Hooters 500 because we had Jeff Gordon, a legend that retired in half the length of Richard Petty's career.
The fact that Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Ricky Rudd, Davey Allison, Bill Elliott, and Alan Kulwicki all shared the track that day for the first and last time… now all are either gone or retired.
The best title battle ever for me will always be 2004. It came down to literally the last lap of the season. This one was as good as 2011, both were pretty much won with 10 laps to go.
The saddest part is that 1992 season was not very good. The racing was far less competitive than in 1991; this Atlanta race and the 600 at Charlotte were almost the only good competition all season. The points drama was hype more than substance until Irvan spun out and plowed into Allison; all Allison had to do was finish 5th and the title was his, and all of a sudden the points race became something it generally can't be - something compelling.
And the crazy thing was, it came down to the 2nd and 3rd place drivers in the championship entering the race, as all the others that were still in the hunt (Davey Allison, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, and Mark Martin) had all been eliminated from championship contention at that point. Probably the only time that I can think of in the modern Pre-Chase era (1972-2003) that that sort of thing occurred. But, then again, there hadn't been a championship chase like 1992 before or since.
This was the most competitive championships in NASCAR history it was a great season great achievements it was like David and Goliath of NASCAR and James hunt and Nikki lauda championship battle in NASCAR.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that had there been a Chase at this time, Kyle Petty would've won the championship on the same day his father retired. #ThatsIncredible 😂😂😂
Fast fact: NASCAR's Greatest Race of the Century, the 1992 Hooters 500, the most legendary day in NASCAR History, was depicted on The Day, which was shown on the now-defunct Speed, the ancestor of Fox Sports 1. Among the figures that were featured in this episode were the Pettys
Exactly 1 year after Major League Baseball's Greatest World Series of the Century, the 1991 World Series, the most legendary Championship series in MLB history, NASCAR's Greatest Race of the Century, the 1992 Hooters 500, saw the late Alan Kulwicki made the impossible by defeating Bill Elliott, the late Davey Allison, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, and Mark Martin to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in Winston America Championship, which occurred exactly 18 years prior to the Greatest Formula 1 Race of the Century, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the most legendary day in Formula 1 History, and 22 years before the Greatest ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals Night of the Century, the 2014 ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals Night, the most legendary day in Contemporary Christian Music history
Just sad to think if Davey and Alan were still here i bet you both would still be racing right now. If not probably around their retirement seasons as of 2022
And by 1996, This entire landscape would look completely different. Davey And Alan are both dead, Jeff has won a few Championships as well as earnhardt. And clintons would be steeped in controversy.
Allison only won 5 races that year, so no one knows what McReynolds was talking about. The cup that year was won with the lowest average finishing position ever.
6 drivers entered that race with a mathematical chance at the title: Kulwicki, Elliott, Allison, Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty. Gant, Martin and Petty were extreme long shots, but were still mathematically alive.
It's races like these that show why the Chase sucks. A 6, count em 6, driver battle for the championship, now it's 4 driver elimination where the drivers know if they run better than the other 3 they will win. These guys back in the 92 hooters 500 raced their asses off because they knew they had to in order to win the championship. Where did the good ol days go
I was there working the infield hospitality area. We pissed the catering company and the man who ran it and he told my friend the lady that we worked with that your bunch won't be eating off of us and she told him your food's not WORTH A DAMN ANYWAY! So 30mins. after the race started we were through working and HOOTERS TOLD US TO COME ON INTO THEIR TENT AND EAT AND DRINK ALL YOU WANT AND NOT BOTHER WITH THE PISSY ASS CATERING OUTFIT 😆!!! All the food and drinks that had ever been served in the infield hospitality area had to be purchased through the race tracks catering service other than that 1 finale race in November of 92 and HOOTERS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT TO SERVE THEIR OWN FOOD BY THEIR OWN COOK'S AND I GUESS THE REASON BEING IS THEY SPONSORED THE RACE👍 damn I miss those GOOD OLE DAYS
Poor Davey. It was bound to happen to one of them. Six drivers going for the championship, so one crash, and one of them is going to be in it. Just happened to be the championship leader.
The amount of class Davey displayed at the end of the race still shocks me to this day, to be that mentally defeated and still stay humble is a honorable trait. Davey was a complete class act on and off the track!
A lot better, the amount class I can never reach. Had I been where he was. After the end of the race, I would have ran that wrecked car up the concrete wall, overturn a tray of wheels, run into in the most vacant area of the speedway and cry. Just shows you how piss poor of a human being I am. And I'm not even American, let alone from the south.
@@VGF80i think there are bad humans from more places than america and the south lol might wanna stay off the nascar video comment sections with comment like that🤦🏻♂️
@@rererollin Wow I forgot I even wrote that half a decade ago.
Truth be told, not much has changed, but I will admit that I exaggerated there.
Still, I'd be pretty pissed off and want to quit if I had luck that horrible.
The King's last race, a future hall of famer's first race, and a little team with a driver from Wisconsin that won one of the most competitive championship points battles in NASCAR history. That storyline is better than any coerced chase drama.
Tyler Crouch well spoken Sir
Shame Kulwicki passed away so young.
Unfortunately, within a year, both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison would be dead in off-the-track aviation accidents, Alan in April outside of Bristol, and Davey at Talladega in July attempting to land a helicopter near the garage area (later blamed on pilot error).
They thought Jeff Gordon would be the new king of NASCAR, only until Jimmie Johnson snatched it off of Gordon.
Agreed. Very well said.
1992 Hooter's 500. The season ended with the TRUE closest championship finish. It was then the end of an era for a legend and the beginning of another legend's career.
"Alan was the bridge from the past to the future."
That may be the most insightful thing Kyle Petty has ever said in his life, and it's 10,000% true. Alan thought like a modern day engineer, but had the drive and work ethic from days past. The days of the independent owner/driver (and mechanic) were ending, yet he still came out on top.
Alan Kulwicki, had he not died, could very well have been a successful car owner after his career ended, using his engineering acumen to run a successful team (Kulwicki had a degree in mechanical engineering).
Too bad that never happened. I think getting away with a championship in what was the truly the most sad year for NASCAR with Bill France the founder gone and Richard Petty retiring to me a few years early (he could have retired when JG won the championship in '95) and Dale Earnhardt having just one win made my dad a huge NASCAR fan back in the day mad. Thankfully the two last Dale Championships and Jeff Gordon's rise to be the new king of NASCAR sort of pushes the new age to 2001 when Dale died and Dale Jr. trying to do what his dad did. My dad passed away from a heart attack in 2005, and the last race he watched was Dale Jr. winning the July 2001 Daytona race. I just think that race was better than the 1992 Hooters 500.
What happened to independent owner/drivers?
@@bk2524 They got Priced right out of the Business!!
As a teenager, I had the pleasure of watching Alan Kulwicki race the short tracks of Wisconsin. What a success story, an inspiration for every idealist.
Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki are true NASCAR racers, they raced each other clean and respected each other, Alan was a true underdog, oh i mean Underbird, he came in, and no one ever thought Alan would be in contention for the championship, and that my friends, was one HELL of a championship battle
An Underbird that will never fly again.
@@diggerfan9319 sadly yes, there can never be a class act driver like Alan again
This championship has more drama, intrigue and excitement than pretty much all before and up to 2003. Since the chase came along, full season excitement is non existent.
Too bad there's been several illegitimate championships since the Chase came in.
Hey, I'm just getting into NASCAR and I'm curious, if everyone hates the playoff system why are they keeping it?
@@bk2524 NASCAR's notorious for not listening to it's fanbase.
@@bk2524 money
bad english alert: iam argentinian and i start to see Nascar in 2008....i hate "the chase". This is real racing battle for the championship
It's funny that was the end of an era. Here we are again
When NASCAR was still worth following and watching.
That was one helluva day and a helluva season. Sadly, two of the six racers (Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki) died just a few months later. Also, I think of what might have been as we could have seen the three way duels between Dale, Jeff and Davey.
Also, that race's aftermath - starting with the firing of Bill Elliott's crew chief - may have marked the last hurrah for Junior Johnson's team, as his team would get only two more victories (both in 1994) before Johnson sold the team by 1996 (a bit of divine payback for Junior Johnson, who tried unsuccessfully to lure Kulwicki to the #11 Budweiser Ford and when Alan turned him down Johnson undercut Kulwicki out of a sponsorship deal with Maxwell House at the last minute, forcing Kulwicki to drive without a sponsor for the first few 1991 races until Hooters signed on)
I find myself watching this all the time. Just amazing, greatest race in all of history. Even with how hard they try, nascar will never be able to fabricate a championship race like this.
So so happy for Alan, and crushed for Davey at the same time.
I have so much respect for Alan Kulwicki. He wanted to prove he could make it in NASCAR doing it his way and he beat the odds and became "King of the Hill." Would have been cool to see Alan, Davey and Jeff Gordon race together. They say that after your racing career ends, people remember you more for what you last did and for Alan, he died the reigning champ. I will remember him for his last full season more than the rest of his career.
8 yes later I'm still watching. I was there and this is my favorite race ever!!!!! I was a Dupont guest and met Jeff and his mom. I was wearing my Hooters tshirt and brand new Dupont hat signed by Jeff. One of my best days
Alan, Davey and Jeff enter the Hall of Fame the same year!
How ironic that the King's last crew chief is Jeff Gordon's final champion crew chief?!
No matter the topic in life throughout history
It will always come back to the 1992 Hooters 500
Bob Jenkins, my fav NASCAR announcer
Likewise. No one else was better. In fact, Benny Parsons (R.I.P.) and Ned Jarrett were excellent alongside Bob.
dnasty312 He had such a distinct voice, truly a voice of an era.
One of the best booths in sports history, IMO. Bob has a smooth, uptempo voice without going too far over the top. Benny and Ned's personalities meshed well and made for good balance; Benny was a little more jovial and emotional but didn't go so far as to become a caricature of himself, and Ned was more analytical and direct but wasn't overly dry.
The best part? No catchphrases, no hype, no over the top antics. Just three professionals who were were well balanced personality-wise and made it sound as if they were just watching the race in one of their living rooms.
With Dr.Jerry Punch & John Kernan working pit road, that was the best line up ESPN ever had covering Winston Cup races.
I love Jenkins
Davey Allison died way too young, he was already great but he was gonna be a champion and redeem himself from the 1992 season
He and Alan :(
I was there that day. I was there for a bunch of races at Atlanta during that time, but this is the race I remember. It was the day of a lifetime.
I'm relatively new to following NASCAR, even I shed tears watching this for the first time, the gestures for the passing of Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison were perfectly poetic. More than that, it was one of the most loaded storylines of any championship in any race series. The final race for the most successful driver in NASCAR history, The King Richard Petty, the first race another multiple champion, Jeff Gordon and six drivers mathematically in contention the championship in 1992
Kulwicki died 5 months later. :'( He Will Be Dearly Missed
+Dale Shahid Indeed he did; a plane crash outside of Bristol claimed Kulwicki's life. Three months after that, Davey Allison died in a helicopter crash attempting to land his helicopter near the garage area at Talladega (The crash was later blamed on pilot error).
+EricEbac22 Davey lost his brother Clifford in 93 a few months before his own death as well
+Dale Shahid you can't keep moving, if you still drag pain in your back
Clifford died in August of 92, not in 93.
1993 was a brutal year for NASCAR
and once Jeff Gordon retires at the end of this season, the Richard Petty linage will be just about over, Richard Petty can be traced from divers who raced in the first NASCAR race to drivers still active today, and while there will still be 1 or 2 part-time drivers active after this season who raced with Richard Petty, but Jeff Gordon will be the last full-time driver.
Robert Torres Both Labontes were part time for the last few years of their careers. (Terry for 8 years). Rusty Wallace did run full time until he retired though, yes.
Also last year's race at Talladega was the last of Terry Labonte's career
Morgan Shepherd
Derrick Cope
I'm sure Chase Elliott could be the new king of NASCAR hopefully by the 2020's.
I have to agree this was a remarkable race, although I only saw it on ESPN, it was really emotional, such a close Winston Cup finish. There will never be race quite like this one, and the sport will never be the same. RIP - Alan & Davey.
Someone needs to make a live action movie about this.
It could be a "group movie", focusing on everyone and no one
You got the story of one driver retiring. One who came from nothing, one just starting out and one who was becoming an up and comer.
Ron Howard should direct it, especially with how he depicted the legendary F1 rivalry between Hunt and Lauda in Rush.
Got a concept title, that you may change, “The Day 92’ “
And no debris yellows...
or stages
thats TV yellows now
The 1992 Hooters 500 still remains the most exciting NASCAR race in the history of racing.
This race had me on the edge of my chair and throwing beer cans and ash trays every lap. The competition between Kulwicki and Elliott in those few laps were soooooo very exciting. I could have strangled Ernie Irvan for taking Davy Allison out. LOL... Never have I been so involved in a NASCAR race ever. I will never forget it!!!
NASCAR racing is a total joke today. They put any young driver in the seats that can drive fast and turn left and expose them as stars. All cars are built exactly the same and where the hell did Toyota come from???????
it is an all out disgrace how Nascar and the Nascar media does not recognize or mention Alan Kulwicki some 20 years later after his death. I don't think his name has even been brought up for the Hall of Fame.
He was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in '98 and was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in '02, which until NASCAR opened their own HoF, was the preeminent motorsports hall of fame. As I'm sure Alan told himself many, many times......"Patience, your (his) time will come."
Kulwicki didn't use a computer, but what he used with notes and math (he had a mechanical engineering degree) is now computerized to optimize racing.
Well two years later. Him and Davey Allison are in the 2019 Hall Of Fame Class.
It's cause he was a "foreigner"
@@1201zj It has nothing to do with that you absolute twat. There are so many names to induct. Both he and Davey Alison will get their spot eventually
Honestly, this storyline is something out of a movie. You have the greatest driver in the sport make his last start, a future legend make his first start, a 6 man dog fight for all the marbles, and an underdog beat all the odds and doubters, and take home the crown. Some director in Hollywood, please make a movie about this race!
They could easily make a "Rush" style movie about the 1992 season. Between the championship, The King, and Jeff Gordon I bet anybody who's ever been even sort of interested in NASCAR would come watch it. Let Ron Howard direct this one too!
The 92 season was just one rollercoaster after another for just about everybody.
Fun Fact: Jimmy Carter worked at Atlanta as a ticket vendor
Not just cool, as I worked for him...As I went from military to Dawsonville (radios), fabrication..I'd have to say AWESOME.
IF I can... I'l see James E. and have him sign my DIXIE 500 hat, from event he MAY have worked.
And President Carter is one of my watchful people to die in 2019.
@@diggerfan9319Carter is still here in 2024
@@Dupontman627 Holy fuck he's reached 100! Oh well he'll be gone soon enough.
Thanks to the new Chase, we'll never have excitement and drama like this again...
The chase RUINED NASCAR
Nope.
While I get championships were won with 3-4 races remaining, which made for non eventful finales, the chase still sucks more.
@@jeffniznick9280 I agree. I'd rather see somebody dominate an entire season and when with a few races to go instead of watching somebody hit a string of good luck around the end after being average all season.
Paul Andrews makes me tear up every time. So much was lost when Alan died. Same with Robert Yates and Davey.
To hell with the manufactured Chase drama created by Brian France. Anybody who says 2011 was a superior year to this is an idiot. THIS was a true championship fight.
Hard to believe that modern NASCAR was born with this as well. Seems so long ago.
***** Technically both Tony and Carl won in 2011. The point differential was zero.
1992 tops 2011. But 2004 tops them both.
Agreed, Jeff Gordon, 6 time true champion.
You can't say that 2011 was superior to 1992 in anyway, but the reason 1992 is fondly remembered is because:
A) Kulwicki, and to an extent Davey, never got another chance to run for championship contention
B) it was the only time that the three 'greats', King Richard Petty, Dale Intimidator Earnhardt, and Jeff Wonderboy Gordon were ever in the same race.
C) it was the farewell race for Petty
D) Everyone was pulling extra-hard for Davey because of Clifford's death earlier that year.
The points battles in 1992 and 2011 are similar in that it was 'close', however, the lead up to both of them were radically different, and the in-race events were radically different also.
***** Considering everything Tony did in the Chase, he deserved it. He was better than Carl when it mattered most. Carl was incapable of winning races, and that's why he lost. To win a title, you need to be able to win a lot. Carl couldn't do that in 2011, Tony did. Carl needed to win Homestead to win it all, and he couldn't do it because he couldn't win races in 2011. Ironic, isn't it?
Me and my two brothers were there. It was a great race and one that I'll never forget. Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison both lost their lives in the next year. :-(
Back again to watch this full outstanding video of this amazing race. As I said I still have the race taped n a VHS tape and a player in good condition to watch it on, but the commentary and behind the scenes information about the top drivers in this video makes it much more interesting.
It is such a shame that NASCAR has fallen under the clutches of the "ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR" these days. All the real drivers and heroes are gone. There is "NO WAY" these young drivers of today can come remotely close to comparing to the drivers and car owners of then. No more Fords vs Dodge, no more Chevy vs Pontiac, no more Plymouth vs Buick. That was a major part of keeping us gearheads interest in the sport. All cars of today are built the same with all the same after market engines and who ever donates the sheet metal for the cars and sponsors the teams puts their logo on that car. .Also, where in the hell did Toyota come from and what business does it have in an American Muscle racing sport with the back roads roots such as NASCAR??? I'll tell ya where they came from... "$$$$$$$$$$"... That is all NASCAR is about now days. There will never be drivers such as Petty, Earnhardt, Allison, Kulwicki, Elliott, Martin, Wallace, Waltrip, Jarrett, Gordon, Yarborough, Johnson, Baker, Bonnet, Shephard, McDuffey, Gant, and all other greats. These guys were in those seats because of passion and heart for the sport. Drivers today are there for the dollars, fame, and glory. NASCAR will never be the same. Too many greedy chiefs and not enough Indians so to speak!!!
Alan Kwickwi*sp whould been a huge star and also Davey Allison whould been a star also along with Gordon!
What might've been...Gordon wouldn't have finished his career with as many wins I assure ya. They would've taken several. The good Lord had other plans :)
No, Kulwicki and Allison would have not let Jeff Gordon a chance, I think it sounded right when both of them died a combined 24 wins, the # for Gordon, who was a superstar compared to those two. Kulwicki could have easily not won the championship if he didn't lead as many laps and handed the championship to Bill Elliott.
@@diggerfan9319 Kulwicki and Allison were killed in '93
@@jonathan_tong93 Of course and no better year to put away those two and let Gordon be the new king of NASCAR.
Still drives a dagger into my heart to watch Davey wreck and then the part of his death. I remember both all too well and pain is just as real as it was then.
You know, Nascar doesn't really have much exposure in the UK unless you have certain sat channels. But I can see and watch these great drivers with their inspirational stories and I can appreciate their talents thanks to docs like this, fabulous!!
I remember this race well...looking back: NO Danica Patrick absolutely JAMMED down everyone's throat. (Now she jams it down Stenhouses' throat)
And another thing worth noting is that, of the four 1992 championship contenders who were still with us at the end of the following season; Mark Martin was the only one that was a serious contender for a championship after 1992 (coming in 2nd in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2009 in addition to his 2nd place finish in 1990).
Especially notable is that how much Bill Elliott's career really tailed off after 1992 (from winning 35 races and the 1988 Winston Cup between 1985-92; Awesome Bill won only 4 races the rest of his career and never finished higher than 8th in points after 1992).
its not about changing of the guard, its about people WE, THE REAL FANS, CAN IDENTIFY WITH, not some bunch of cookie cutter drivers, with no history of anything, walk in up , and say in " I wanta drive a race car " and daddy pays his way in
This is the 1st race I ever remember watching. It was the last race for my moms favorite driver. And the 1st race for my favorite driver.
i never got the chance to see Alan race but man i would have loved to watched that race live
This was the first NASCAR race I ever saw as a kid. I was immediately hooked. Sitting here now after watching this it evokes so much emotion. How it all played out was so heartbreaking and leaves me with sadness even now. Alan and Davey were too good for this world, I suppose. God or fate saw fit to take them away before they could ever fall from grace.
The greatest race in NASCAR history. No way this will ever be replicated in today’s circumstances.
When the schedule was released everyone looked at this day as being historical. It had heartbreak and triumph and sadness and hope. This race will never be forgotten.
They aren't gone, we all are just a lap down. We'll catch them again after the Final Lap.
Thanks for the amazing memories fellas! But don't lift, I'm reeling you in!!
still, after all these years, can't help but get excited, this is RACIN !!!!!!!
I think that Fox Sports 1 after the race at Homestead Miami Speedway this year should make another one of these show's except call it "The Day: 2015 Ford 400" and it should focus on Jeff Gordon. That would be pretty cool.
However, it would then have to also focus on the "Champion" Kyle Busch. As far as my knowledge goes. 2015 was said to have a dumpster fire of a championship. Kyle Busch is not a champion, he's is a championship cheater. However 2018 does seem to be a more deserving year for him though.
Too bad it was Joey Logano's turn. But I think the 2015 Ford 400 is a better race than the 1992 Hooters 500 because we had Jeff Gordon, a legend that retired in half the length of Richard Petty's career.
What about Chase Elliott’s championship and Jimmie Johnson’s retirement from NASCAR? I see that as the passing of the torch
Kyle didn’t cheat he played by nascars rules and earned the championship you’re just a bitter junior fan
They should a NASCAR movie about this the 1992 NASCAR season the closest championships in NASCAR history.
Surprised Yates hired Ernie Irvan to drive after he took Davey out in this race.
"Surprised" I would rather say "Ironically"
yates didnt take davey out the car for irvan, davey died
The fact that Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Ricky Rudd, Davey Allison, Bill Elliott, and Alan Kulwicki all shared the track that day for the first and last time… now all are either gone or retired.
Sterling Marlin Ernie Irvan Dale Jarrett Harry Gant Ricky Rudd
WOW... Coming up on 30 years ago. Remember it like it was yesterday!!!
92 was NASCARs greatest season, ever!
The best title battle ever for me will always be 2004. It came down to literally the last lap of the season. This one was as good as 2011, both were pretty much won with 10 laps to go.
92 had more folks in the hunt... classic teams and drivers... things changed in 96 that have made the racing more IROC style
Yea but 2004 literally came to THE END of the season. In 1992 when they said Alan led the most laps, it was pretty much over.
???? incorrect.... 92 was the benchmark season.
2014? Amazing racing, and the title went down to the last lap.
Arguably the greatest NASCAR race of all time.
Man, I had forgotten about the Apaches circling 30’ above the pace laps. That was BAD ASS!
God giveth, God taketh away.
great show! thanks for posting
I went to the last race at Atlanta before they rebuilt it. The year Terry Labonte won the cup. This brings me back to that race.
The only bad part about this documentary is they had to bring up billy boy Clinton and it was the bad part of 1992!
The saddest part is that 1992 season was not very good. The racing was far less competitive than in 1991; this Atlanta race and the 600 at Charlotte were almost the only good competition all season. The points drama was hype more than substance until Irvan spun out and plowed into Allison; all Allison had to do was finish 5th and the title was his, and all of a sudden the points race became something it generally can't be - something compelling.
And the crazy thing was, it came down to the 2nd and 3rd place drivers in the championship entering the race, as all the others that were still in the hunt (Davey Allison, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, and Mark Martin) had all been eliminated from championship contention at that point. Probably the only time that I can think of in the modern Pre-Chase era (1972-2003) that that sort of thing occurred. But, then again, there hadn't been a championship chase like 1992 before or since.
This was the most competitive championships in NASCAR history it was a great season great achievements it was like David and Goliath of NASCAR and James hunt and Nikki lauda championship battle in NASCAR.
Wonderful, a fine fine race team!!! Loved it! From Buford Georgia 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😇 😇😇 😇👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Imagine my surprise when I found out that had there been a Chase at this time, Kyle Petty would've won the championship on the same day his father retired. #ThatsIncredible 😂😂😂
My dad got tickets from Mike Helton and sat with him in the infield for this race. At the time, Mike was the GM for Talladega Superspeedway.
Fast fact: NASCAR's Greatest Race of the Century, the 1992 Hooters 500, the most legendary day in NASCAR History, was depicted on The Day, which was shown on the now-defunct Speed, the ancestor of Fox Sports 1. Among the figures that were featured in this episode were the Pettys
23yrs exact since nov 15, 1992 wow I can't believe it
Great upload
The fords dominated the 1992 season Bill Elliott,Alan kulwicki,and Davey Allison where the best ford drivers in the field.
I was born about 9 years later. I'm so sad I missed so much
Rest in peace, Alan.
Exactly 1 year after Major League Baseball's Greatest World Series of the Century, the 1991 World Series, the most legendary Championship series in MLB history, NASCAR's Greatest Race of the Century, the 1992 Hooters 500, saw the late Alan Kulwicki made the impossible by defeating Bill Elliott, the late Davey Allison, Harry Gant, Kyle Petty, and Mark Martin to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in Winston America Championship, which occurred exactly 18 years prior to the Greatest Formula 1 Race of the Century, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the most legendary day in Formula 1 History, and 22 years before the Greatest ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals Night of the Century, the 2014 ASOP Music Festival Grand Finals Night, the most legendary day in Contemporary Christian Music history
How ironic - 1992 was the year for Ford in NASCAR
Just sad to think if Davey and Alan were still here i bet you both would still be racing right now. If not probably around their retirement seasons as of 2022
What a race. God I would’ve loved to be alive at this time.
Already? 1992 Gordon started his 1st race. This weekend is gonna be his last Sprint Cup. #24ever
And by 1996, This entire landscape would look completely different. Davey And Alan are both dead, Jeff has won a few Championships as well as earnhardt. And clintons would be steeped in controversy.
The King goes out . And a new legend was born in Jeff Gordon
Allison only won 5 races that year, so no one knows what McReynolds was talking about. The cup that year was won with the lowest average finishing position ever.
Please Jeff Gordon, come back for only one more race
A Champion's Dynasty Began here
it was awesome bill vs alan kuwicki with the polish victory lap vs davey allison son of bobby allison all going for a title at atlanta in '92
Son of Richard Petty Kyle was in contention in that race too!
Brian211978
As was Mark Martin.
6 drivers entered that race with a mathematical chance at the title: Kulwicki, Elliott, Allison, Harry Gant, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty. Gant, Martin and Petty were extreme long shots, but were still mathematically alive.
29:14 1992 had its first GoPro
if, NASCAR, could come back, to real racin, like this, without all the PC culture, they'd have a show, unlike any other
I was at this race! The first and best race.
It's races like these that show why the Chase sucks. A 6, count em 6, driver battle for the championship, now it's 4 driver elimination where the drivers know if they run better than the other 3 they will win. These guys back in the 92 hooters 500 raced their asses off because they knew they had to in order to win the championship. Where did the good ol days go
the ironic thing is that chase elliott drives a hooters car now 😂😂😂
Rest In Peace
Davey Allison
Alan Kulwicki's biopic certainly needed to be made...
Legendary year for Motorsport
Bill Elliott won four straight races in the beginning and was already the favorite to win.
The last owner/driver to win a Championship...from Greenfield, WI. The last one to win under the same format, from Cambridge, WI.
Last owner/driver to win the championship, until Tony Stewart did it in 2011.
I was there working the infield hospitality area. We pissed the catering company and the man who ran it and he told my friend the lady that we worked with that your bunch won't be eating off of us and she told him your food's not WORTH A DAMN ANYWAY! So 30mins. after the race started we were through working and HOOTERS TOLD US TO COME ON INTO THEIR TENT AND EAT AND DRINK ALL YOU WANT AND NOT BOTHER WITH THE PISSY ASS CATERING OUTFIT 😆!!! All the food and drinks that had ever been served in the infield hospitality area had to be purchased through the race tracks catering service other than that 1 finale race in November of 92 and HOOTERS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT TO SERVE THEIR OWN FOOD BY THEIR OWN COOK'S AND I GUESS THE REASON BEING IS THEY SPONSORED THE RACE👍 damn I miss those GOOD OLE DAYS
Davey will always be THE Man in Black to ME.
Poor Davey. It was bound to happen to one of them. Six drivers going for the championship, so one crash, and one of them is going to be in it. Just happened to be the championship leader.
One of Richard Petty's final race and Jeff Gordon's first cup race.
ESPN never showed any replays of Jeff Gordon's wreck. None of the announcers even mentioned when it happened.
Wow how different and exciting the next several years of nascar would’ve been if Alan and Davey had lived.
God. bless you America, my baby girl,
Idk why 33:41 is so funny to me